[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [War in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944) › c14.2 # War in Ancient India c14.2 War in Ancient India c14.2 - **Language:** English ### [c14.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c14.2) The origin and use of flags can be traced to the earliest Indian literature, the Ṛg Veda Samhitā. The term \*dhvaja\* occurs twice in this Veda.¹ Besides \*dhvaja\*, we meet with a good number of expressions for a banner in Vedic literature. These are Akra,² Kṛtadhvaja,³ Ketu,⁴ Bṛhatketu,⁵ Sahasraketu.⁶ It appears that the Vedic host aimed their arrows at the banners of the enemy. The idea was that once the banner was captured, or struck, a claim was made for success in the battle over the enemy. Ketu was a pennon small flag as contrasted with Bṛhatketu or the big flag. Sahasraketu may be a thousand flags or it may be interpreted as a knight who had brought under control a thousand flags of enemies. Ketu by itself may mean a hero or a chief. We are told that banners and drums were counted among the insignia of ancient Vedic kings. This tradition is seen in the Atharva Veda which has an unmistakable reference to a flag with the device of the Sūrya (the Sun God). - [Previous: c13.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c13.10) - [Next: c14.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c14.3) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c14) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c14.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1944.c14.2) · Pramāṇa